The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Starting the New Year in Fine Style

[venusandmars]

Hello, I'm Venus, and standing in for Mouse (who usually starts all our threads)

This is a safe and welcoming place for anyone who is facing up to a problem with alcohol. It may be something you’ve known for years, or it may be that struggling with dry January has made you re-think your relationship with drink.
Anyway, welcome old and new, lurkers and posters. It can be a weird thread at times – travelling on a bus called Gerald.... he takes us up and down and this wondrous land, searching high and low for Babes in need of some support, a warm place to sit and chat, and to have someone to listen to them.

So, grab a seat as we swing by your way. There's lots of hot drinks, food and fleeces, places to just be and places to sit around and chat if that's what you want.

We don't judge, because we've all been in your shoes, be they stilettos, wellies or crocs!...

We're just us, we're just honest and we just do what we can to help, if we can, when we can. If you find all the banter off-putting just jump in with a cry for help.

And HAPPY NEW YEAR xxx

Here is the very first, emotional thread if you would like to see where this all started

Our most recent thread, if you want to catch up

Hmm.

Day 32. How weird to write that. I have found today really hard - i think because it is now Feb and somewhere in my subconscious there is a tiny evil sneaking feeling of licence to drink, cos Jan is over. Out at lunch with friends having a glass or two, and then a real kick of a witching hour between 6 and 8-ish. So I diligently took myself for a bath, with obligatory candles and book, and was twitchy but ok.

But then - for anyone who needs cheering up - when I was lying contemplating my lovely (gnarly horned) feet in the bath some odd memory surfaced of reading about the benefits slathering them with coconut oil and wrapping them in cling film overnight. Sounds twisted enough to have been a Daily Mail tip, which frankly serves me right. Anyway, am now trussed up like a mildly perverted chicken, oozing very stinky coconut oil, and as the final indignity, trying to shuffle around in squidgy cling film meant I fell straight downstairs. I feel properly foolish, DP is laughing his head off and all I can say is I hope I have baby-smooth trotters tomorrow cos all this sure as hell hasn't diverted my desire for WINE. Grr.

Hope everyone is doing OK

Lol at small and her oily feet.
khalisi is that the hot builder who held your hand who has now come back with wine???????

Hello. I am back, with sincere apologies for abandoning the bus. I have been struggling with life and job loss and depression, but did all of Dry January and raised a lot of money for cancer research, so a tiny bit proud of that. Managed by being a bit flat and robotic and going through the motions without thinking, and stayed away from here as you all make me think (in a good way) about how to be, and can't do anything till I have some clarity about things post job ending in March. Missed you all though. Went out for meal tonight, drank wine, loved it but determined not to let it get a grip again without a fight, so boarding the bus again (though in sidecar tonight). Read back very quickly and promise to return and namecheck soon. Am so sad to hear about Little, and off to PM Wry. Our bus has lost a darling mascot. Night all, wishing you lovely babes all the best xxx

Morning all.

oh dear Small! But at least it was more difficult to get to the fridge!

Welcome back Hope, you know there's always help and support here.

Monday morning, day 33. Have had a really rotten nights sleep and considered not going to work, but things won't get any better if I do that, so I shall just plow on. At least I'm not hung over.

Have a good one, Babes, be nice to yourselves and send the wine wine to Coventry.

Morning, babes!

I've been a bit quiet lately as struggling somewhat, but I'm still reading all your wise words and taking strength from them. Thankyou. I giggled slightly at the greased feet do let us know if it works though!

Really sorry for the loss of Little the dog, that's awful news

I'm still AF. I'm waiting for my counsellor to set up my next apt. Hope it's soon. Struggling to deal with feelings.

Good Morning All Amazing Brave Babes

Sweet sorry you didn't sleep well, do you have stuff on your mind? were you anxious about today in some way? Hope DS is better and baking can resume this week! Have a good day lovely and remember to be kind to yourself and well done for going into work.

Joey I hope all goes ok at work today. I'll be thinking of you and sending you cyber strength. I'm certain everything will be fine

Hope my love sooooo good to see you back and a huge congratulations on Dry Jan, well done you that is amazing So how's it all going? are there any snifters of any new roles around? Hope DC are all good and keeping you busy I'm sure they are Have a good day me darling x

Beaches so so well done on 'keeping going' I really like the idea of not planning to drink, it seems to be easier on the brain. Anyhow lovely one, I am on Day 2 today and I will not be drinking for February. I'll be hot on your heals Beaches and looking for your support and I will be supporting you lovely How's that pesky snow doing? I walked baby deer this morning and saw a beautiful sunrise, nature is just so amazing, isn't it? The sea was calm and all different greens and blues, oh and that sound of the sea sucking the stones as it pulls them with the waves, love it if you hadn't guessed

I worked out that I did 28 days in Jan, so 28 days of Feb should be a piece of piss and I also just want to keep going AF

Ma enjoy your sign language course this evening

Soc you rock

Baby how was your weekend lovely one? have a good day today xx

Bye for now all, stay positive and smile, it will seriously make you feel better

Sober sorry xposted with you there. I'm sorry you're struggling. Take it easy on yourself, find some lovely things to do today, are you working? if not why not take yourself to the cinema? book yourself a manicure, go for a swim, do an excercise class, anything to keep your mind busy. Get yourself a book and write your thoughts down, this may help you process them. Please take ODAAT. You are doing so well and you have all the support from us on here, keep posting and keep on keeping on. It will be worth it I promise.
Must dash and get DC up for school and get myself ready for work. Take care lovely xx

Good morning, Babes!

Fox lol!!! Can totally understand your DP!

So, my first morning not leaving home for work yet because the Motorway has over 30km traffic jam because of snow!

ma sadly, and I mean really very sadly, it wasn't that one. Why is it always the other one?! You know, like being in a bar and looking at two friends and thinking ooh, wouldn't mind licking that one's face but then its always the bloody friend who comes over (because the other is married)!
Anyway. He's ok too. But I really fancy the other fella.
What does that old song say? If you're not with the one you love, love the one you're with?! I just mind end up taking that advice!

Sorry hope, x-posted!

Well done on DJ!!

Morning all.

Just lost a long post where I nc'd - will try again later as have to get to work - roads clear here.

Things not too good in ruby household but will post later about it

Have positive thoughts and head held high Sweet and Joey you can do it. Everyone else can too.

So sorry about Little

Joey will be thinking of you today. I bet it won't be as bad as you feared and, either way, it will be behind you by this evening x

Sober I do love your honesty on this bus. There is no point lying to yourself, you want a drink. Actually you want lots of drinks. But remember, now matter how you feel now, you will feel a whole lot worse if you drink. You will be physically ill with all the hateful hangover symptoms but what will be worse will be the horrible realisation that you let your dh down. It might even be the end of your relationship. And you will hate yourself. Stick with it, my lovely, you are doing so well and just take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time if you have to x

Got to get off to work now, back later.

Aaaarrgghh just lost my post giving you all a lovely NC. Will post again later!!!

Still here, still sober, still loving y'all,

Laters xxx

Ps wry you are in my thoughts, always xxx

Hi Spanna, it just seems to be my permanent state at the moment, basically since Jan 1st. Work is a lot bit rubbish at the moment, and I seem to take one step forward and two back in terms of dealing with it. But, I am being strong and facing it instead of hiding. As a result, two things already this morning that I was panicking about, have sorted themselves out. There was a beautiful sunrise down here as we left for work, but not quite such gorgeous surroundings as you [jealous].

Sober, it's all part of the process, poppet. Not nice, but necessary, you'll make it through, you need too.

*Kalisi for the traffic and the 'wrong' builder, but big cheesy at "wouldn't mind licking that one's face"!!

Poor Ruby, hope you're alright, have a good day Faire.

Just waiting for boring meeting to start. Good on you Sweet for facing rubbish work.
Also that the wrong man came round Khalisi

Got to go as people arriving for meeting. Back later

Morning babes, (it is very definitely morning here )

Ruby sorry things aren't good in the Ruby household, hope the meeting isn't too boring babe

Spanna oh honey bunch, I am hot on your heels now . After all my smug 'keeping on' feelings, I ended up sharing a bottle of red with dh last night. I am not taking a ticket onto the slippery slope though so extra vigilant for the next few days. Your ratio this year is fantastic sweetpea, Feb is going to be a breeeeezzeeee love your description of the beach and the sucking shoreline. Not much beats those sounds and smells. I embraced nature by wrapping up so only my eyes were exposed and walking to the bus on crunchy icy snow, making the first footprints . Nature rocks!!

Khalis I am a wee bit envious, I have never looked at a man and wanted to lick his face

Hope sweetheart, good to have you back. Well done on dry Jan, robotic or not it is a massive achievement, not to mention all the fundraising.

joey hoping for the best today for you xx

Sweet glad you are facing things and seeing some of them work themselves out. You are sounding so much more grounded and hopeful, you are doing so well babe.

Waves to baby, Faire, Ma. Still thinking of you today why

So, the wine last night . A few notable things. It appears I gave myself the 'reward'. It didn't take long after dh said he was opening the bottle before I said I would have a glass. Into the first few sips I was calculating how long I could make my half last and making absolutely sure I was getting my half. I can say without doubt that had another bottle been in the cupboard I would have opened it. But there wasn't this time and I haven't got a hangover and it was nice. But i would say the off button is only there when all wine is finished or I am pissed, no change there. Plan to put it behind me and keep on not drinking.

Have a good day babes, sorry to anyone I have missed.

Sober I didn't mean to miss you babe, just scrolled back a bit and realised I had. Sorry to hear you are struggling, that initial euphoria from nailing the first week gives way to a stark reality sometimes. One foot in front of the other fo now, we are all with you xx

Yoohoo on me!!!

(Sorry to all the babes hurting I'll read up later, promise. Just wanted to share this as I'm bursting!).

Finally made it to work. I was feeling rather depressed by the very long commute so I thought, cheer yourself up, girl. I sent a text to the 'right' builder saying I hope he got through fine! Aha.
Then he called asking what he has done to deserve the honour! I was so flustered! Like a bloody teenager.
I told him I always have coffee, even when no building takes place.
He'll be coming around either to fix the whole above my living room window or to have coffee.
Like a boss!

Khalisi, you coffee brewing minx! Go you!

Khalis you took the bull by the horns babe, fantastic you!!. He is so obviously keen, ringing straight away ah, a bus romance.

khalisi you go girl!!!! So excited for you xxxx a big, muscly, dirty builder, phhhhhheeeeewwwww xxx

Khalisi go you.

Beaches glad you're still on the bus

Catch up soon

Bloody hell, that was close. Just got home, and got out of the car thinking I could have one glass of wine if I asked DH to drink the rest. So I fed the puss, put dinner in the oven, and put the kettle on. I now have nice, safe, comforting fruit tea. The moment has gone (thank Gerald), but it's so easily done if you're tired and not thinking.

Well done Sweet you're fab

I drank a glass of wine last night so have had a bottle in total this weekend. Think that's kind of 'normal'

I was fuming at dh yesterday, he has a short fuse and shouted at me as we arrived at our friend's house. It was embarrassing and I had to leave and walk round the block for 10 mins so that I could calm down. . It was because i'd suggested parking in their driveway but there were 2 cars in there already that I couldn't see, he respondedwith something along the lines of 'do you want me to park on top of their car, fool?' Which I ignored as I would have been told I was too sensitiveif I had said anything. Anyway I did say something about him coming in so the door could be shut when we got into the house and he raised his voice and said 'what do you want me to do? Stand on dd?' Who was taking her shoesoff in front of him. Then said 'stop wittering at me'. Me feeling uncomfortable in front of friends tried to laugh it off and said 'he's tired and hungover'. He responded by shouting 'no i'm not just wish you would stop wittering'.
Whilst I was walking round the block friends told him he was out of order.

Sorry about essay but wanted to tell someone and record it

And badly written

Good for your friends, Ruby, has he apologised?